Unilorin VC, Prof Egbewole seeks increased funding for education

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN), has emphasized the need for a conscious and deliberate effort to increase funding for the education sector.

According to TRIBUNE, Professor Egbewole made this statement while delivering a lecture at the second quarter courses of the Nigerian Army Institute of Science Education and Technology (NAISET) at Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Kwara state. He also advocated for the restructuring of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to ensure that educational institutions come up with their own budgets annually, as opposed to the current arrangement where TETFund determines the allocation for universities.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that education remains an indispensable tool for personal and social development, as it frees the mind from bias and prejudice.

However, Professor Egbewole lamented the consequences of inadequate or decaying infrastructure, which hinders quality education. He pointed out that the education sector has significantly lagged behind the suggested benchmark of 15-20% of the national budget, as prescribed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), for the past 20 years.

He observed that the recommended 26% allocation of the national budget by UNESCO for education funding would not be sufficient to cater to Nigeria’s critical educational needs, given the current state of the sector.

While budgetary allocations to the education sector appear to be increasing by billions of Naira each year, Professor Egbewole highlighted the drop in the percentage of the budget and its value. He emphasized the importance of resources, both manpower and materials, in the functioning of the educational system.

Addressing various forms of corruption in the education sector, such as embezzlement, bribery, fraud, and extortion, Professor Egbewole stressed the need for government agencies to hold tertiary institutions accountable for the judicious use of allocated funds. This, he argued, would contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of Nigeria’s educational sector.

He maintained that funding issues severely hinder internal efficiency, and addressing the wastage of available resources is equally crucial for the nation’s institutions.

While public spending on education remains a major concern in Africa, the Vice Chancellor stated that adequate funding for education is non-negotiable and critical for poverty reduction, human capacity development, and the creation of economic opportunities.

Professor Egbewole called for collaboration between the government, private sector, and parents, along with universities/tertiary institutions, staff unions, students, and administrators, to make appropriate decisions for effective education management in Nigeria. He urged workers’ unions to focus on internal system workings and be realistic in their approach, rather than emphasizing issues unrelated to members’ welfare.

The Commandant of NAISET, Major General Sani Sumaila Ibrahim, supported the Vice Chancellor’s call for increased funding in Nigeria’s education sector. He highlighted the unfairness of allocating the same amount to a university with about 4,000 students as universities with over 50,000 students. Major General Ibrahim emphasized the need for management, staff, and union leaders in Nigerian tertiary institutions to be on the same page to prevent unnecessary unrest.

The Vice-Chancellor was accompanied by the Principal Officers of the University, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Sulyman Funsho Ambali; the University Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla; the Bursar, Mr Hakeem Sonde; and the Librarian, Dr Kamaldeen Omopupa, among others.